Delta aims to inaugurate the 717 into commercial service on October 25, 2013 instead of November 01, 2013. The first service will be from Atlanta to Newark with flight number DL2343. The planned Boeing 717-schedule remains subject to change.

Sri Lankan company FitsAir (FITS Aviation (Pvt) Limited) has ordered two MD-82Fs which will be converted by Aeronautical Engineers. Both aircraft were originally operated by Alitalia. The first MD-82 will be converted into a freighter in Miami/USA shortly.

There are reports (including from ch-aviation.ch) that Qantas is assessing the CSeries from Bombardier and the E-Jet family for the replacement of the 18 B717-200s operated on its behalf by Cobham Aviation Services Australia.

An earlier report in this blog stated that the AOC of Dana Air was revoked on last Sunday. This drastic measure resulted in stranded passengers due to the suspension of the entire flight schedule.

According to several news reports, I can summarize the following information:

– Passengers got refunds for the cancelled flights or were re-booked to other airlines

– The impact is not that high due to the relatively small market-share of Dana Air at the time of the grounding

– Dana Air stated that they (the airline) is shocked about the grounding

– Some reports claim that Dana Air is now running out of cash due to all the costs associated with the grounding and refunds

All available information claims that the reason of the grounding was probably a scheduled flight which returned back to the origin airport due to problems with one engine.

I am not able to verify this information but it should be noted that the return of a flight and or engine problems are daily occurrences worldwide and such a decision by the pilots is part of precautionary measure in the interest of safety. The grounding due to such an event is probably not in the interest of safety because an airline and/or pilots could be influenced by the decision not to declare the wish to return to an airport due to a malfunction.

The Nigerian NCAA suspended the AOC of Dana Air last Sunday. MD-80.com will research and collect all information and will be pleased to issue more detailed information during the next 24 hours. Thank you.

Less than three weeks are left for the MD-80 at SAS and here some additional information. After the last revenue-service from Stockholm to Copenhagen (SK403) on October 26, 2013, the last MD-82 will be readied for a last flight from Copenhagen to Oslo. This flight is a charter-service organized by “BusinessClass.se” and the flight will bear the number BC001. Bookings are available at the moment but it is believed that some seats are reserved for journalists and other VIPs for this last flight and the following ceremonies in Oslo.

It is believed that the aircraft will be donated to a museum after both nines are removed.